All the way out of the palace and back to the Count's residence, I was actually a bit nervous. That was because I ignored Noevian's message to come to the Grand Duke's residence immediately. Who would stop Noevian in the Count's residence without a Count?
“This is how I live, Ma’am!”
"I've ordered him to escort you around for the time being. For the time being, but I'm afraid he's gone off on some bullshit about how chivalrous it is to greet you as his host, and he's lost his mind. I apologize on his behalf.”
I narrowed my eyes at Rhodnes, who was choosing his words to smooth out his harsh tone.
“...So, did you share the cookies I sent, or did Sir Neil eat them all?”
In an instant, the surroundings were enveloped in silence. For that moment, both Rhodnes and Neil kept their mouths shut like mutes who had eaten honey.
“The first cookies you ever made are still in my drawer.”
“Oh my God, you still have that? It must have gone bad already...!”
“It matters.”
“I don’t care. Whether it’s rotten or dirty, I’ll just eat it. Right now. If you want, you can come into the palace with me and watch me eat.”
“Just throw it away. What if you eat it and it gives you a stomachache?”
“Stomachache? I’ve never had such a minor illness.”
Although I wasn't particularly angry, Rhodnes fidgeted the whole way to the cafe near the Count's residence. He glanced at me with a face that was even more frozen than mine, and then made excuses. To summarize, the reason was as follows.
'He was distressed because the cookie reminded him of my death, and he was worried that eating the cookies Blie baked would make me sad.'
“I would be more upset if the cookies I made made you sick than if you threw them away without eating them.”
At the words that I would be upset, Rhodnes's face turned pale and then red, then back again. Was he originally someone who reacted so violently?
“If I say I won’t stay by his side unless I'm the Grand Duchess... then he might do whatever it takes to put me in that position. Even if it means taking politically impossible measures.”
"Then..."
“If he keeps making unreasonable moves, and his followers start turning their backs on him one by one, and he ends up with many enemies... If only we could find a decisive incident that could bring about his downfall and prevent him from ever setting foot in aristocratic society again...”
“What would be a case of a fall from power? For example? If the Crown Prince is trusted to the extent of Noevian Trovica, then unless it is treason or murder...”
“Would it be enough to justify the crime of killing his own wife with his own hands?”
"...What?"
Despite the gazes pouring in from afar, Rhodnes suddenly stood up. His eyes, filled with all sorts of emotions, looked down at me as if he couldn't believe it.
“What did you mean by that just now?”
“If I could become the next Grand Duchess, I would have the opportunity to enter either the Grand Duchess’ office or Noevian’s office. If I could find anything then...”
“What did that just mean?”
Rhodnes finally knelt down on one knee in front of me, who was trembling slightly but still speaking firmly. He placed both hands on my knees and held them tightly so that I could not move.
“Who am he going to kill with his own hands?”
The bloodshot eyes were burning as if they were going to burn me.
“...Poor Adrienne Piretta.”
“Adrienne!”
“In the end, I didn’t really die because I was sick...”
“Adrienne, please!”
“...I might not have known that my husband was killing me.”
Big tears that I didn't even know were falling fell onto Rhodnes's hand, which was holding my knee.
“...I saw Blie Acacia write that in her diary.”
If he were to take me to the bedroom right now, would there be anyone who would stop him?
Given Noevian's personality and pride, I couldn't guarantee that he would force a woman to do that.
'I might have to stay in the palace for a while.'
The Crown Princess Palace always had a guest room ready for the maids. I thought I would never use it because it was only a 'temporary' stay, but I could use it whenever I needed to.
'I might have to stay in the palace for a while.'
The Crown Princess Palace always had a guest room ready for the maids. I thought I would never use it because it was only a 'temporary' stay, but I could use it whenever I needed to.
While I was wondering what to pack and whether I should take Jonah with me, the carriage stopped. An unexpected person was reaching out to the open carriage door.
“... Rhodnes?”
On a warm, sunny afternoon, when I saw Rhodnes standing in the sunlight, I felt like my breath was holding. I didn't know why, it just happened. Every time I saw Rhodnes, I felt like I was wandering between the 'An' of my childhood and the arrogant 'Second Prince' I had clashed with up until then.
“You entered the palace, but I didn’t receive any message.”
"Ah."
Were we supposed to meet? I kept my mouth shut in thought, and then Rhodnes reached out his hand a little closer. It was strange that the large, white-gloved hand no longer seemed unfamiliar.
“Your hands are really big.”
“?”
Rhodnes looked at my hand with a bewildered expression as I spoke without even taking his hand.
“... I think it’s normal.”
“It’s big. Anything.”
As I was getting out of the carriage, holding Rhodnes's hand, a gruff voice suddenly came out.
“Hello, Sir Neil.”
“Neil. Don’t add more words.”
Neil, who seemed to have a lot to say, slightly bowed his head toward Rhodnes and then turned his gaze to me.
“Oh, Ma’am. You’re really good at making cookies. These are the best cookies I’ve had in years...”
Thud-!!
On a warm, sunny afternoon, when I saw Rhodnes standing in the sunlight, I felt like my breath was holding. I didn't know why, it just happened. Every time I saw Rhodnes, I felt like I was wandering between the 'An' of my childhood and the arrogant 'Second Prince' I had clashed with up until then.
“You entered the palace, but I didn’t receive any message.”
"Ah."
Were we supposed to meet? I kept my mouth shut in thought, and then Rhodnes reached out his hand a little closer. It was strange that the large, white-gloved hand no longer seemed unfamiliar.
“Your hands are really big.”
“?”
Rhodnes looked at my hand with a bewildered expression as I spoke without even taking his hand.
“... I think it’s normal.”
“It’s big. Anything.”
As I was getting out of the carriage, holding Rhodnes's hand, a gruff voice suddenly came out.
“Hello, Sir Neil.”
“Neil. Don’t add more words.”
Neil, who seemed to have a lot to say, slightly bowed his head toward Rhodnes and then turned his gaze to me.
“Oh, Ma’am. You’re really good at making cookies. These are the best cookies I’ve had in years...”
Thud-!!
Rhodnes' long leg stretched out and kicked Neil's shin without mercy. In an instant, Neil curled up like a shrimp and cried to me with tears streaming down his face.
“This is how I live, Ma’am!”
"I've ordered him to escort you around for the time being. For the time being, but I'm afraid he's gone off on some bullshit about how chivalrous it is to greet you as his host, and he's lost his mind. I apologize on his behalf.”
I narrowed my eyes at Rhodnes, who was choosing his words to smooth out his harsh tone.
“...So, did you share the cookies I sent, or did Sir Neil eat them all?”
In an instant, the surroundings were enveloped in silence. For that moment, both Rhodnes and Neil kept their mouths shut like mutes who had eaten honey.
***
“The first cookies you ever made are still in my drawer.”
“Oh my God, you still have that? It must have gone bad already...!”
“It doesn't matter.”
“I don’t care. Whether it’s rotten or dirty, I’ll just eat it. Right now. If you want, you can come into the palace with me and watch me eat.”
“Just throw it away. What if you eat it and it gives you a stomachache?”
“Stomachache? I’ve never had such a minor illness.”
Although I wasn't particularly angry, Rhodnes fidgeted the whole way to the cafe near the Count's residence. He glanced at me with a face that was even more frozen than mine, and then made excuses. To summarize, the reason was as follows.
'He was distressed because the cookie reminded him of my death, and he was worried that eating the cookies Blie baked would make me sad.'
“I would be more upset if the cookies I made made you sick than if you threw them away without eating them.”
At the words that I would be upset, Rhodnes's face turned pale and then red, then back again. Was he originally someone who reacted so violently?
His face, which was as indifferent and perfect as a carved statue, changed several times a second, so it was amazing that I kept looking at him.
“...I’ll still eat it.”
The carriage soon arrived in front of the café, and Rhodnes jumped down and reached out to me again. This time, I didn’t hesitate. The noisy surroundings became a little louder when the carriage with the royal emblem arrived.
“I’m healthy and I won’t get sick from eating those cute cookies, but you’ll be sad and secretly sad if your cookies are thrown away.”
“No, I...”
“That’s the kind of person you are, Adrienne.”
“!”
“That’s the kind of person you are.”
Delicate and affectionate. Even if you pretend not to care, you are suffering while chewing over it.
“...I’ll still eat it.”
The carriage soon arrived in front of the café, and Rhodnes jumped down and reached out to me again. This time, I didn’t hesitate. The noisy surroundings became a little louder when the carriage with the royal emblem arrived.
“I’m healthy and I won’t get sick from eating those cute cookies, but you’ll be sad and secretly sad if your cookies are thrown away.”
“No, I...”
“That’s the kind of person you are, Adrienne.”
“!”
“That’s the kind of person you are.”
Delicate and affectionate. Even if you pretend not to care, you are suffering while chewing over it.
Then, I looked up at him, following the low humming voice. A voice that was sweet enough to bring tears to my eyes continued to flow from his thick throat.
You are that kind of person, Adrienne.
“So I... don’t like it when you’re even a little upset.”
It was only a small whisper, but it was a voice that shook my soul, so I couldn't help but stand still for a moment.
“So I... don’t like it when you’re even a little upset.”
It was only a small whisper, but it was a voice that shook my soul, so I couldn't help but stand still for a moment.
***
We sat down in a place where the people around us could see us well. Rhodnes seemed to be crying, but eventually, he twitched his hand as if he was worried about me not crying, but eventually, he took his hand away. I also took my gaze away from his hand and held out the Elacon book. Rhodnes accepted the book without saying anything, smiled faintly, and looked through it.
“Did you finish it all by yourself?”
“Yeah. The day you got angry at me in front of Her Majesty Empress Letina’s portrait... I haven’t heard from you since that day. I studied a lot on my own.”
“Nothing has changed.”
Rhodnes frowned slightly as if remembering that moment and smiled. He looked a little apologetic.
"What?"
“No matter how bad the situation is, you always try to move forward like that.”
Rhodnes, who had closed the book, gestured to Neil, who was standing far away. Neil placed a book on the table. It was the book <Intermediate Elacon>.
“I was going to start giving you full-fledged tutoring, but the progress seems to be going quickly.”
“Aren’t you busy...? You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”
“I’ll do it even if I’m busy. I can use this as an excuse to be with you.”
Because he spoke so eloquently and decisively, I didn't even have time to blush. Wasn't Rhodnes ashamed at all?
“There must be a reason why you came to such a public place under the pretense of studying, right?”
"...Yes."
“I intend to actively cooperate with whatever your plan is. As long as it puts your mind at ease.”
Rhodes' eyes were looking straight at me without wavering. I held my slightly trembling hands and opened my mouth quietly.
“...I intend to get a promise from Noevian that he will make me the Grand Duchess.”
"...What?"
Rhodnes' face turned pale. It seemed as if all the blood had drained from his body in an instant.
“Grand Duchess... Are you saying you want to become a Grand Duchess?”
Rhodnes clenched his fists. He was clearly angry.
“I’m planning on using you to get those words out of Noevian’s mouth, no.”
“...”
Rhodnes' eyes shook violently. I gently placed my hand on his fist, which was clenched so tightly that blood flow was blocked. Rhodnes, who flinched greatly, slowly moved his gaze over it.
“I intend to obtain your cooperation. And Her Highness the Crown Princess’ cooperation as well.”
“I don’t know what it means.”
“Do you remember what I said before?”
Rhodnes waited silently for me to continue speaking.
“I asked you... how I could kill Noevian Trovica most cruelly and miserably possible.”
“!”
“It was my mistake to ask you. In fact, I know how to make him die most cruelly and miserably possible.”
“If you tell me, I will...”
“Only I can do it.”
I took my hand away from Rhodnes and sat up straight. His gaze followed me relentlessly until I withdrew my hand and straightened my posture.
“Noevian is a man who values his honor above all else. I understand. As the Emperor’s half-brother, he has accumulated countless achievements while alive, and he would never want to lose what he has devoted his life to.”
My throat was so parched that I had to wet my mouth with cold tea.
“That’s why the government that he has been hiding from everyone else like this, and is still trying to hide. It’s because he doesn’t want to leave even a single stain on his honor.”
“...”
“What I’ve felt from dealing with Noevian over the past two months is that... Noevian wants Blie more than I thought.”
"So?"
“If I, who he already thought was his, kept getting entangled with you and the Crown Princess who was in conflict with him, he would probably do anything because he thought I would be taken away from him.”
We don't know how far that “anything” goes, but... there's nothing Noevian hasn't set his mind to, so he'll do anything. Again.
“Did you finish it all by yourself?”
“Yeah. The day you got angry at me in front of Her Majesty Empress Letina’s portrait... I haven’t heard from you since that day. I studied a lot on my own.”
“Nothing has changed.”
Rhodnes frowned slightly as if remembering that moment and smiled. He looked a little apologetic.
"What?"
“No matter how bad the situation is, you always try to move forward like that.”
Rhodnes, who had closed the book, gestured to Neil, who was standing far away. Neil placed a book on the table. It was the book <Intermediate Elacon>.
“I was going to start giving you full-fledged tutoring, but the progress seems to be going quickly.”
“Aren’t you busy...? You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”
“I’ll do it even if I’m busy. I can use this as an excuse to be with you.”
Because he spoke so eloquently and decisively, I didn't even have time to blush. Wasn't Rhodnes ashamed at all?
“There must be a reason why you came to such a public place under the pretense of studying, right?”
"...Yes."
“I intend to actively cooperate with whatever your plan is. As long as it puts your mind at ease.”
Rhodes' eyes were looking straight at me without wavering. I held my slightly trembling hands and opened my mouth quietly.
“...I intend to get a promise from Noevian that he will make me the Grand Duchess.”
"...What?"
Rhodnes' face turned pale. It seemed as if all the blood had drained from his body in an instant.
“Grand Duchess... Are you saying you want to become a Grand Duchess?”
Rhodnes clenched his fists. He was clearly angry.
“I’m planning on using you to get those words out of Noevian’s mouth, no.”
“...”
Rhodnes' eyes shook violently. I gently placed my hand on his fist, which was clenched so tightly that blood flow was blocked. Rhodnes, who flinched greatly, slowly moved his gaze over it.
“I intend to obtain your cooperation. And Her Highness the Crown Princess’ cooperation as well.”
“I don’t know what it means.”
“Do you remember what I said before?”
Rhodnes waited silently for me to continue speaking.
“I asked you... how I could kill Noevian Trovica most cruelly and miserably possible.”
“!”
“It was my mistake to ask you. In fact, I know how to make him die most cruelly and miserably possible.”
“If you tell me, I will...”
“Only I can do it.”
I took my hand away from Rhodnes and sat up straight. His gaze followed me relentlessly until I withdrew my hand and straightened my posture.
“Noevian is a man who values his honor above all else. I understand. As the Emperor’s half-brother, he has accumulated countless achievements while alive, and he would never want to lose what he has devoted his life to.”
My throat was so parched that I had to wet my mouth with cold tea.
“That’s why the government that he has been hiding from everyone else like this, and is still trying to hide. It’s because he doesn’t want to leave even a single stain on his honor.”
“...”
“What I’ve felt from dealing with Noevian over the past two months is that... Noevian wants Blie more than I thought.”
"So?"
“If I, who he already thought was his, kept getting entangled with you and the Crown Princess who was in conflict with him, he would probably do anything because he thought I would be taken away from him.”
We don't know how far that “anything” goes, but... there's nothing Noevian hasn't set his mind to, so he'll do anything. Again.
“If I say I won’t stay by his side unless I'm the Grand Duchess... then he might do whatever it takes to put me in that position. Even if it means taking politically impossible measures.”
"Then..."
“If he keeps making unreasonable moves, and his followers start turning their backs on him one by one, and he ends up with many enemies... If only we could find a decisive incident that could bring about his downfall and prevent him from ever setting foot in aristocratic society again...”
“What would be a case of a fall from power? For example? If the Crown Prince is trusted to the extent of Noevian Trovica, then unless it is treason or murder...”
“Would it be enough to justify the crime of killing his own wife with his own hands?”
"...What?"
Despite the gazes pouring in from afar, Rhodnes suddenly stood up. His eyes, filled with all sorts of emotions, looked down at me as if he couldn't believe it.
“What did you mean by that just now?”
“If I could become the next Grand Duchess, I would have the opportunity to enter either the Grand Duchess’ office or Noevian’s office. If I could find anything then...”
“What did that just mean?”
Rhodnes finally knelt down on one knee in front of me, who was trembling slightly but still speaking firmly. He placed both hands on my knees and held them tightly so that I could not move.
“Who am he going to kill with his own hands?”
The bloodshot eyes were burning as if they were going to burn me.
“...Poor Adrienne Piretta.”
“Adrienne!”
“In the end, I didn’t really die because I was sick...”
“Adrienne, please!”
“...I might not have known that my husband was killing me.”
Big tears that I didn't even know were falling fell onto Rhodnes's hand, which was holding my knee.
“...I saw Blie Acacia write that in her diary.”
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